Columnists Articles

As many of us think through New Year’s resolutions, we’re seeking habits that bring value to our lives and make us the best, most healthy versions of ourselves. This year, instead of focusing on cutting back or giving things up, why not create resolutions that add joy, connection and adventure to your family’s life? Here […]

August kicks off a new school year for students from kindergarten to college. As a parent, you may be used to your typical to-do lists before school starts; buying school supplies, picking out new shoes and finishing up the summer reading lists with your kids. While the extra tasks and expenses can add stress to […]

Summer can be a challenging time for working parents. The younger your children are, and the more children you have, the harder it can be when school is out and you’re still working 8+ hours a day. Camps can be expensive, and they tend to fill up early. So now what? Keep a schedule Schedules […]

Summertime can often mean more screen time for kids of all ages, especially those with working parents. We’re not suggesting that screen time be cut altogether; we’re not crazy. Deliberate screentime with thoughtful activities and supporting resources can be great at preventing the summer slide often associated with younger kids out of school for several […]

May is National Foster Care Month, and approximately 391,000 kids across the country are currently in foster care, with more than 8,000 of those children in Tennessee. There is always a need for more families to provide safe, loving homes for these kids, but it can be an intimidating role to take on. We sat […]

For decades, childcare providers, doctors, nurses, teachers and researchers have used the Adverse Childhood Experience tool to approach trauma in children and its effect on mental and physical health through adulthood. The study, completed by the Centers for Disease Control and Kaiser Permanente, is a good resource for discussing the ‘bad things’ that can happen […]

The Middle Tennessee air is becoming warmer, dogwoods are blooming, and colorful, fresh produce is filling the shelves in the grocery stores. These are typically sights and smells welcome after an icy, cold winter, but a year after the traumatic mass shooting at Covenant School, these senses may serve as an unwelcome reminder of a […]

For many of us, it’s hard to recall the days before the existence of the internet, and today, multiple generations will never know a world without constant, immediate and instant updates. As our lives become more and more intertwined with the internet, it is more important than ever to know how to keep ourselves and our […]

Mentoring young people can be life-changing for both the mentor and mentee. Through Youth Villages’ Chris Crye Mentoring Program, you can be a big positive change in a child’s life and direction. Mentors provide important life skills and lessons, career advice, and fun to young people. Julie Abbott, community development manager with Youth Villages in […]

We are in an era where New Year’s resolutions can sound like an unachievable, pointless exercise. Most resolutions are broken by February 1, so what’s the point? The big, lofty goals – lose weight, find a new job, apply to graduate school, pay off student loans – are scary because they are so vague. By […]

Over the last few years, studies have proven that we have a mental health crisis for children and adults alike. We have identified this as an important issue to address, but the next question is how to address is. Parents can often come up empty-handed in the search for insurance-covered psychiatrists. Many rural communities don’t […]

Childhood, and raising children, are the same as they always were but by today’s standards are almost completely different. The last few years have been incredibly anxiety-provoking for anyone, with the pandemic and its resulting isolation, sexual harassment cases coming to light, school safety concerns and increased bullying online and in person. A Youth Risk […]